By John Gipson
The word providence is often on
our lips, but we may not have a clear conception of
its meaning.
The idea is forethought. It comes
from a combination of words: before and to think.
Hence, forethought. The word is inserted into the
New Testament by a certain orator named
Tertullus who took the lead in bringing charges
against the apostle Paul. In an
effort to praise Governor Felix, Tertullus said,
“Since through you we enjoy much peace and since by
your provision (forethought, providence), most
excellent Felix, reforms are introduced on behalf of
this nation, in every way and everywhere we accept
this with all gratitude” (Acts 24:2-3). In the eyes
of Tertullus, Felix was quite a man. The nation had
been blessed by his providence. Felix had looked
ahead, planned, and brought to pass needed reforms.
Whatever the providence of Felix
might have been, it is nothing compared to the
forethought of God who planned our redemption from
the foundation of the world.
We see God’s providence
throughout the realm of nature, in the guidance of
the nations, and in the deliverance of Israel from
bondage into the promised land.
Benjamin Franklin said, “The
longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of
the this truth, that God governs in the affairs of
man; and if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground
without his notice, is it probable that an empire
can rise without his aid?
We see God’s providence in
individual lives: In David guarded from so many
perils; in Joseph who could review the past and tell
his brothers that they weren’t responsible for
bringing him to Egypt—it was the forethought and
planning of God.
He who is truly thoughtful finds
providence not only in the history of the world, but
in his own personal and family history.
He therefore has confidence in
the future. If God sustained the Israelites in the
wilderness so that they lacked nothing, can’t He
provide for us? We need the same conviction with
which Abraham spoke to his son, Isaac when he said,
“God will provide . .
.”
- via The Encourager, the weekly bulletin for the
Calvert City Church of Christ, Calvert City,
KY. Lance Cordle preaches for the
congregation. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website:
http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com
By David A. Sargent
Like many students in our
nation, Tyler Doohan, a fourth grader at East
Rochester Elementary School in New York, was
out-of-school on Monday, January 20, due to a
holiday. Because of the time out of class,
Tyler spent Sunday night with some extended family
at his grandfather’s trailer in Penfield, a suburb
of Rochester.
Perhaps it was the smell of
smoke or popping sounds caused by the fire, but
Tyler awoke from sleep very early on Monday morning
and saw that the trailer was on fire. This
eight-year-old sprang into action awaking 6 other
people – including two other children, ages 4 and 6
– enabling them to get out of the trailer safely.
Tyler’s uncle, Steven
Smith, and his grandfather, were still in the
burning trailer, so Tyler rushed back in to help
them. His uncle was disabled and used a
wheelchair because he’d lost part of a leg.
Tyler, his uncle, and his
grandfather did not make it out of the
trailer. Fire investigators found Tyler’s body
just a few feet from his uncle’s bed.
Chris Ebmeyer, Fire Chief
of the Penfield Fire Company, said the casualties
would have been much worse had Tyler not reacted so
quickly. "He saved those other six people,"
Ebmeyer told the Democrat & Chronicle newspaper
of Rochester.
The East Rochester School
District sent a letter to all families saying Tyler
"bravely and selflessly" gave his own life "to save
the lives of six others — and he is truly a hero."
Tyler Doohan reminds us of
the greatest Hero of all…
When we were doomed because of our sins and headed
for the “everlasting fire” of punishment, God sent
Jesus to our rescue so that we would not perish in
the flames (Ephesians 1:7). Jesus went “into
the fire” and suffered the punishment for our
sins. He “endured hell” so that we wouldn’t
have to. “He himself bore our sins in his body
on the tree [i.e., the cross], so that we might die
to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds
you have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24). He gave
His life for us so that we might live (1
Thessalonians 5:10).
Jesus will save and give
eternal life to those who accept His offer of
salvation on His terms: placing their faith and
trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in
repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Jesus before
men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed)
into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).
He will continue to cleanse those who strive to
continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John
1:7).
Jesus said, “Greater love
has no one than this, than to lay down one's life
for his friends.” – John 15:13
Tyler demonstrated that
kind of love. His actions provide a glimpse of
the great love that Jesus demonstrated for ALL of
mankind to offer salvation from the greatest peril:
how He bravely and selflessly gave Himself to save
ALL who would come to Him in trusting obedience.
Won’t YOU respond to His
great love by accepting His gift of salvation and
life on His terms?
* Information gleaned
from “NY town mourns brave 8-year-old who died
saving six people from trailer fire.” by M. Alex Johnson, Staff
Writer, NBC News --
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/
- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of
Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the
editor of an electronic devotional entitled Living Water."
To learn more about this excellent resource contact
David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org
By Lance Cordle
• Can, and will be, good or bad.
• Can last for years, through your work and your
children.
• Can reach someone for Christ who may not be
influenced by any other Christian.
• Can be the most stabilizing factor in the life of
your child.
• Can be the most destabilizing factor in the
life of your child.
• Can be the stress-reducer that your mate needs.
• Can be the stress-producer that results in a
lifetime of resentment and heartache.
• Can be a “silent” instructor, causing some one to
follow Christ.
• Can be felt throughout your neighborhood and
community because of your humble acts of kindness.
• Can be a hindrance to the cause of Christ in your
neighborhood and community because of your worldly
and hypocritical behavior.
• Can be seen every day.
• Can be built and strengthened over many years.
• Can be ruined by one foolish act.
• Can be mingled with the influence of others, for
good or bad.
• Can be powerful in the life of someone else
without you even knowing it.
• Can be good, even if someone reacts negatively to
you or hurts you.
• Can be present after you leave an area
(physically), in the form of good memories with
those whom you touched.
• Can be seen by the repetition of your words or
actions in the lives of those whom you taught.
• Can be controlled by you.
• WILL live on after you are gone from this life.
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set
on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14).
- Lance Cordle preaches the Calvert City Church of
Christ in Calvert City, KY. He may be
contacted through the congregation's website:
http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com
By Lee Moses
Sometimes questions
arise as to whether is is Scripturally necessary, or
even Scripturally permissible, to “place membership”
with a congregation. A modern brother or
sister may raise the objection: “I’m a member
of the church of Christ, and that’s good enough for
me.” What this person means is: “I am a
member of the universal church of Christ, but I have
no interest in serving in a local
congregation.” Others seem to believe that
placing membership is a denominational concept,
rather than a Scriptural concept. However, the
term simply means to identify oneself with a local
congregation.
Please consider a few
reasons why it is both Scripturally permissible and
Scripturally necessary to place membership with a
faithful church of Christ after leaving another.
1. In the New Testament, each first century
Christian is understood to be a member of a
particular congregation. The New Testament
does speak of the universal church of Christ, into
which the Lord adds the saved when they are baptized
(Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:47; Eph. 5:23).
However, far and away, the New Testament most often
uses “church” to refer to the local congregation
(Acts 14:27; 20:17; Rom. 16:1,
23a). Paul wrote “saints which are at Ephesus”
(Eph. 1:1). Here it is expressed that he wrote
to “saints,” or Christians – but were they not
saints who were members of the local church at
Ephesus? He wrote “unto the church of God
which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in
Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in
every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our
Lord” (I Cor. 1:2). “Paul, and Silvanus, and
Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians
which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus
Christ” (I Thes. 1:1). Whether Paul addressed
“the saints at [whatever location]” or “the church
at [whatever location],” he was addressing the same
group.
2. Members are responsible to function within the
body (Rom. 12:5; I Cor. 12; Eph. 4:16),
and the body functions within each local
congregation. There is no larger
organizational structure of the church (compare with
Phil. 1:1). If we do not function within
a local church, we do not function within the
church at all.
3. Christians have the responsibility to submit to a
local eldership…, while each eldership has the
responsibility to oversee the flock they are among
(Heb. 13:17; Acts 20:28; I Pet.
5:2). If one never submits to an eldership, he
never complies with his responsibility to submit to
an eldership, and he hinders elders from performing
their responsibility to oversee the flock.
4. After Saul was converted and returned to
Jerusalem, he knew he had to identify himself with
the congregation there. This is why “he
assayed to join himself to the disciples” there
(Acts 9:26). There is no difference between
this and what is sometimes called “placing
membership.” If Saul saw the need to identify
himself with a faithful congregation where he was
living, why would we not have the same need?
If one lives in an area where there are no faithful
congregations, placing membership is obviously not
an option. In such instances, one should again
do what the first century Christians did, and
establish congregations in those areas (compare with
Acts 8:4ff; 11:19-21).
Otherwise, placing
membership is both Scripturally permissible and
Scripturally
necessary.
- via The Central Message, the weekly bulletin of
the Central Church of Christ in Paducah KY.
Jim Faughn serves as an elder and preacher for the
congregation. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website at:
http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org
By R.W. McAlister
What a shame that so many today have a glaring disrespect for the
elderly, including parents. Today’s generations need to learn more
perfectly the will of the Lord regarding respect for parents. Proverbs
30:11, "There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not
bless their mother." This could be said of many in our time. Paul writes
in Eph. 6:2: “Honour thy father and mother; which is the first
commandment with promise.”
The focus of this brief article is, as the title indicates, not
the relationship between young children and parents, but grown children
and older parents. We must honor our parents, regardless of our - or
their - age.
Included in showing honor is to speak kindly of them, doing things
for their well being. “Disobedient to parents" was a mark of the wicked
Gentiles (Romans 1:30; II Tim. 3:2).
Honoring parents includes caring for them in their time of need.
Proverbs 23:22, “Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise
not thy mother when she is old.” Natural affection, and especially the
love of Christ (Jn 13:34-35) would have us care for those who cared for
us. Who has cared for us more than mother and father?
First Timothy 5:8 reads, “But if any provide not for his own, and
specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is
worse than an infidel."
What many seemingly have forgotten is that duty to parents does
not end with childhood days at home with mom and dad. Christ rebuked
some adults who dishonored their parents when their parents were
dependent on them (Matthew 15:1-9). They were giving to God, but
neglecting the care and provision of their parents, which was also
commanded by God. Christ condemned such inconsistency and accused them
of making God’s Word null and void and displacing the commandments of
God to follow their own traditions.
Surely, parents who have devoted much of their lives to the
benefit of their children shouldn't be cast aside when they grow old.
This smacks more of paganism and heathenism than Christianity. We set
aside a command of God to fail to provide care for their needs in their
hour of need.
Honoring parents means to give them respect and special
consideration (Ephesians 6:2). Children can bring joy and gladness to
their parents, or they can bring reproach, sorrow and despair. How can
people so live as to hurt their parents who cared for them when they
were small? Sometimes, the excuse is that the parent wasn't a very good
one, perhaps showing favoritism, or being manipulative, or one of any
number of things. Listen, parents sometimes make bad mistakes - I've
made plenty of mistakes with my 3 children, but would God have us to
always be unforgiving and "punish" them by being openly rude or cutting
off all communication with them? Remember the words of Jesus in Matt.
6:14-15: “…if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will
also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither
will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
We must always manifest a forgiving spirit to any who may have
wronged us. Parents aren’t always perfect, and will make mistakes –
sometimes very serious and damaging ones. Let us manifest the forgiving
spirit of Christ, who cried out from the Cross, “Father, forgive them,
for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).
Proverbs 23: 24 & 25 "The father of the righteous shall
greatly rejoice, and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of
him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee
shall rejoice." If both or either of your parents is still alive, how is
your relationship with one or both? Is there a need to improve upon it?
The future is uncertain as there is no promise of another day (Jas.
4:13-15). Give it some thought.
- R. W. McAlister preaches for the Anna Church of Christ in Anna, IL.He
may be contacted through the congregation's website:
http://www.annachurchofchrist.com/
A voyaging ship was
wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the
men on it were able to swim to a small,
desert-like island. The two
survivors agreed that they had no other recourse but
to pray to God. However, to find out whose
prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the
territory between them and stay on opposite sides of
the island.
The first thing they
prayed for was food. The next morning, the
first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of
the land, and he was able to eat its fruit.
The other man’s parcel of land remained
barren. After a week, the first man was lonely
and he decided to pray for a wife. The next
day, there was a woman who swam to his side of the
island. On the other side of the island, there
was nothing. Soon the first man prayed for a
house, clothes and more food. The next day,
like magic, all of these were given to him.
However, the second man still had nothing.
Finally, the first man
prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could
leave the island. In the morning, he found a
ship docked at his side of the island. The
first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided
to leave the second man on the island. He
considered the other man unworthy to receive God’s
blessings, since none of his prayers had been
answered.
As the ship was about
to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven
booming, “Why are you leaving your companion on the
island?”
“My blessings are
mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for
them,” the first man answered.
“You are mistaken!”
the voice rebuked him. “He had only one prayer
which I answered. He prayed that all of your prayers
be answered.”
For all we know, our
blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone,
but those of another praying for us.
Oftentimes you hear parents telling their children
on their wedding
day, “We have been praying for this day since before
you were born.” Prayer is powerful because our
God is powerful. Who will you pray for
today?
- Selected and adapted; via The Encourager, the
weekly bulletin for the Calvert City Church of
Christ, Calvert City, KY. Lance Cordle
preaches for the congregation. He may be
contacted through the congregation's website:
http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com
By Bill Brandstatter
A few years ago, I was
talking to a Christian about his commitment to God. He said
he didn’t go to worship much because God had “touched him.”
He stated that he took his granddaughter, but he hadn’t been
to worship in three weeks. Church just wasn’t what he
expected. So I asked him, just what did he expect?
What do you expect of God?
Some expect God to put a stamp of approval on their
lifestyle and to accept them without any change on their
part. These folks might reason that since God is just and
kind, He would accept them as they are. Jesus, however
preached, “Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” He
also stated, “Except you repent you shall all likewise
perish.” (Luke 13:3) We have to change for God to accept us.
Some may think very little of
God‘s perspective and only think about their own. Remember,
God doesn’t think like man does. (Is. 55:8, 9) Man lives in
a physical world. Often what man expects in the physical, he
also expects in the spiritual. When excitement,
entertainment, and pleasure are the way of the physical,
some expect that in the spiritual as well. Any church that
doesn’t provide those is not what they expect.
Sometimes man may think God’s
ways are unfair. Some said so in the past. (Ezek. 18:25)
Those living in a sinful relationship might believe it is
unfair that God wants them to separate. Someone else in a
dead end marriage can’t believe that God wants them to stay
together “till death do you part.” Those who are living a
sinful lifestyle might consider it unfair that they must
leave that lifestyle in order to get to heaven. (Gal.
5:19-21) Yet, who is it that sets the standard of fairness?
Who decides right or wrong? God does.
Some may expect God to do
what man is supposed to do. God cannot save a person who
does not want to be saved. God cannot save someone who has
not met His requirements. (Matt. 7:21) When the rich man was
in torment as recorded in Luke chapter 16, he wanted someone
to go to his brothers on earth to warn them. The answer was,
“They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.”
(Luke 16:29) Those who want to be saved must follow God's
laws. Anything else is not acceptable.
We cannot expect God to
strike us with a burst of Bible knowledge. It takes study on
the part of man to understand the will of God. The Bereans
searched the scriptures to see if the preaching they heard
was accurate. (Acts 17:11) We must study God’s Word and
handle it correctly. (2 Tim. 2:15) Let us pray that we
always strive to do what God expects so that we have a good
conscience toward Him. (Acts 24:16; 1 Pet. 3:21) God loves
us so much that He puts guidelines, rules, and ways in place
to help us get through this life and be in heaven one day
with Him. If we follow Him, we will achieve that goal.
– Bill Brandstatter preaches for the Marion Church of Christ
in Marion, IL. He may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://marionchurchofchrist.com/
By Wayne
Coats
It is the truth that no
normal person can live in heaven without having a strong
desire to enter therein. It is said of the ancient Hebrews
that, “Now they desire a better country...” (Heb. 11:16).
The country in which we live is indeed a sorry place from
several viewpoints. The law of Jehovah is spurned, rejected,
denied and often laughed at. The morals of the country are
scarcely above that of rats and rabbits. Political chicanery
and dishonesty runs rampant. Faithful children of God often
despair and long for better days. It matters not how wicked
this old world gets, the Christian must continue to live and
walk by faith (2 Cor.
5:7).
We can have many desires but
none can equal the desire for a better country. We can
follow the example of these ancient Hebrews who desired a
better country. Those faithful people were busy seeking a
better country (Heb. 11:14). Almighty God does not force His
abode on careless people.
Hebrews chapter 11 presents a
portrait of those who offered unto God a more excellent
sacrifice. Consider the great effort which the people
expended. It was by faith that “the elders obtained a good
report” (Heb. 11:2). God rewards those who, “diligently seek
him” (v.6). Abraham desired the city which had foundations
whose builder and maker is God (v.10). The walls of Jericho
fell down after they were compassed about seven days (v.30).
God hath prepared for His
people a city which should be desired above all else. The
city of God is a heavenly place. It is the “habitation of
God.” “The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the
sons of men. From the place of his habitation he looketh
upon all the inhabitants of the earth” (Psa. 33:13-14). God
has provided some better thing for us (Heb. 11:40). Why will
people refuse to live and walk by faith, rejecting the
better things of God?
The provision of God holds in
store a better resurrection (Heb. 11:35). Such will be a
better place. There will be no pain nor sickness in
that better place. Can we not think what it will be, and
thus desire to live in heaven?
The peerless apostle not only
wanted to be saved, but he wanted others to reap the reward.
He declared, “...my heart’s desire and prayer to God for
Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record
that they have a zeal of God, but not according to
knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness,
and going about to establish their own righteousness, have
not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God”
(Rom. 10:1-2).
The apostle wrote, “For in this we
groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house
which is from heaven. If so be that being clothed we shall
not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do
groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed,
but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of
life” (2 Cor. 5:2-4). We sincerely trust that each reader
will earnestly desire to inherit life eternal with the
Savior. Think of the alternative.
The apostle worked and prayed that
others might be saved. He declared, “And we desire that
every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full
assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but
followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the
promises” (Heb. 6:11-12).
- via the Nile Street Notes, the weekly bulletin of the Anna
Church of Christ in Anna, IL; R. W. McAlister preaches for
the congregation and may be contacted through the
congregation's website: http://www.annachurchofchrist.com/
By Jim Faughn
Phone calls are made;
texts are sent; pictures are posted on Facebook;
Twitter is filled with tweets. In short, the news is
spread in any way possible.
What has just happened?
Isn’t it obvious?
A new child has made his/her
entrance into the world! Parents, grandparents, other
relatives, and friends are all elated. They are filled
with gratitude, pride, joy, and so many other positive
emotions.
However, it won’t be long until
that “new creature” will begin making demands on some of the
older and more mature members of the family. He/she
does not intend to do that. It is just how things
are. Nobody expects a newborn infant to be able to be
self sufficient. It may take a lot of time and loss of
sleep; demands may be made on financial resources; it may be
very difficult; but no right thinking person would resent
getting this infant on his/her way to a healthy, rewarding
life.
The Bible teaches that, when one is
baptized into Christ (cf. Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27), that person
becomes “a new creature/creation” (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17, various
translations). How do the more mature members of
the spiritual family respond to that?
Are we as excited about somebody’s
new birth (cf. John 3) as we are about a physical
birth? Do we “spread that news?” Are we willing
to invest the time, energy, and other resources it will take
to help a new child of God begin a journey that, hopefully,
will lead all of us to heaven?
It would be beyond ludicrous to
expect “the professionals” (doctors, nurses, etc.) to
nurture, train, and educate our newborn children until they
were mature enough to take care of themselves. Once we
leave the hospital, we do what we can for them (with some
“professional guidance” along the way) until they can do
things for themselves.
What would be the sense, then, of
expecting only “the professionals” in the church (preachers,
elders, etc.) to be the only ones expected to help nurture a
new Christian? Wouldn’t it be better if each of us
took some ownership in this?
How about all of us applying
the words of an old song to all of the members of our family
--- especially the newborn ones?
He ain’t heavy.
He’s my brother.
- Jim Faughn serves as an elder and preacher for the Central
Church of Christ in Paducah KY. He may be contacted
through the congregation's website:
http://www.centralchurchofchrist.org
